India says affordable energy comes first as US President Trump greenlights 500% tariff bill
New Delhi, January 9. India has said it will continue to prioritise affordable and secure energy supplies for its 1.4 billion people, responding to a proposed US bill that seeks to impose steep tariffs on countries importing Russian oil.
Reacting to the draft legislation in the US Congress that proposes a 500 percent duty on nations that continue to buy Russian crude, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on January 9 during a regular press briefing that New Delhi was aware of the move and was closely tracking developments.
“We are aware of the proposed bill and are following the developments closely,” Jaiswal said.
He reiterated India’s long-standing position that its energy sourcing decisions are guided by market realities and national energy security considerations.
“Our position on the larger question of energy sourcing is well known. In this endeavour, we are guided by the evolving dynamics of the global market and by the imperative to secure affordable energy for our 1.4 billion people through diverse sources to meet our energy security needs,” he said.
India’s response comes after US Senator Lindsey Graham said President Donald Trump had approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill aimed at pressuring countries such as India, China and Brazil to stop buying Russian oil. Graham said the legislation would give the US president sweeping powers to punish nations that, in Washington’s view, are “fuelling Putin’s war machine” by purchasing discounted Russian crude.
In a post on X, Graham said Trump had “greenlit” the bill following a meeting between the two and that it would be brought up for a bipartisan vote as early as next week, even as peace negotiations on Ukraine continue.
According to the official website of the US Congress, the proposed Sanctioning of Russia Act 2025 includes provisions to impose penalties on individuals and entities and to sharply raise import duties on Russian goods and services to at least 500 percent, a move designed to tighten economic pressure on Moscow and those trading with it.
